Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
  • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
  • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
  • G06F16/954—Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
  • G06F15/161—Computing infrastructure, e.g. computer clusters, blade chassis or hardware partitioning
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
  • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
  • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/10—Services

Definitions

• Computer systems and related technology affect many aspects of society. Indeed, the computer system's ability to process information has transformed the way we live and work. Computer systems now commonly perform a host of tasks (e.g., word processing, scheduling, accounting, etc.) that prior to the advent of the computer system were performed manually. More recently, computer systems have been coupled to one another and to other electronic devices to form both wired and wireless computer networks over which the computer systems and other electronic devices can transfer electronic data. Accordingly, the performance of many computing tasks are distributed across a number of different computer systems and/or a number of different computing environments. [0002] For example, on the Internet, computer systems often operate in a client/server arrangement. One computer system including a Web browser requests data from another computer system including a Web server.
• HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
• WWW World Wide Web
• HTTP is a request/response (or synchronous) protocol.
• a Web browser requests information by submitting a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") and a Website identified by the URL returns content (typically Hypertext Markup Language (“HTML”)) to the Web browser.
• URL Uniform Resource Locator
• HTTP Hypertext Markup Language
• the Web browser interprets the content for presentation, such as, for example, through video and/or audio output devices.
• Typical Web experiences are advantageous in that any computer system with a properly configured Web browser can access content from a Web site.
• a Web browser essentially functions as a thin client to provide a small number of well-defined mechanisms for accessing and presenting content.
• a Web server in response to a Web browser request, does virtually all of the processing to get data in an appropriate format (e.g., HTML) for presentation at a Web browser.
• HTML e.g., HTML
• this client/server arrangement also has a number of disadvantaged. For example, all interaction with an application is required to pass through a Web server. As a result, data (e.g., a URL) is sent to the server, the server responds, and other data (e.g., a Web page) is reloaded at a Web browser.
• typical Web browser operation causes a synchronous (and sometimes slow) loop for user interactions, for example, limiting when Web site content can be presented.
• a Web browser's small number of well-defined mechanisms for accessing and presenting content limits how and what types of content can be presented. For example, most Web browsers are not natively configured to present anything other than HTML data. The use of scripts can enhance presentation abilities to of a Web browser to some extent. However, data presentation still occurs within the Web browser and is limited to the Web browser environment.
• a variety of applications often referred to as Rich Internet Applications (“RIAs") can provide alternative experiences with expanded or enhanced capabilities for accessing and presenting Internet-based content (sometimes outside of a Web browser).
• RIAs utilize an intermediate software layer, sometimes referred to as a client engine, between a Web browser and Web server to circumvent Web browser limitations.
• a RIA can be programmed to perform virtually any application function a designer believes will enhance some aspect of a user interface or improve its responsiveness when handling various user interactions (e.g., as compared to a standard Web browser implementation).
• RIAs can provide benefits such as expanded user-interface behaviors not obtainable via HTML, increased responsiveness, client/server workload balancing, asynchronous communication (i.e., communication can occur without a user triggering a response/reply), and network efficiency.
• RIAs can be executable (e.g., .exe) files, installation packages (e.g., .msi), or ZIP file installation packages.
• a user typically has to read some Website or application specific HTML user- interface of an application to identify a link to an RIA. The use then clicks a specific button or link on the HTML page to trigger downloading and/or installing of an RIA.
• the present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for discovering alternative user experiences for Websites.
• a Web browser submits a request for content to a Web site.
• the Web browser receives responsive content responsive to the request from the Web site.
• the Web browser determines that the responsive content includes a link to an application manifest.
• the application manifest lists one or more alternative applications configured to access content from the Web site.
• the Web browser indicates (e.g., through user-interface elements) that the Web site includes alternative application experiences.
• the indication is presented in response to determining that the responsive content includes the link to the application manifest.
• the Web browser receives a user indication of a user desire to retain the alternative application experiences listed in the application manifest.
• the Web browser downloads components associated with the alternative application experiences to the computer system in response to the user indication.
• the Web browser caches the downloaded components at the computer system to retain the alternative application experiences for subsequent use.
• the Web browser indicates that the alternative user experiences are available through an alternative application center.
• the alternative application center provides a common location for accessing alternative application experiences for different Web sites.
• Figure IB illustrates an example computer architecture that facilitates activating an alternative user experience for a Website.
• Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of an example method for discovering alternative user experiences for Websites.
• Figure 3 illustrates a portion of a Web browser user-interface for saving alternative user experiences for Web sites.
• Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a portion of a user-interface for accessing and activating an alternative user experience for a Web site.
• the present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for discovering alternative user experiences for Websites.
• a Web browser submits a request for content to a Web site.
• the Web browser receives responsive content responsive to the request from the Web site.
• the Web browser determines that the responsive content includes a link to an application manifest.
• the application manifest lists one or more alternative applications configured to access content from the Web site.
• the Web browser indicates (e.g., through user-interface elements) that the Web site includes alternative application experiences.
• the indication is presented in response to determining that the responsive content includes the link to the application manifest.
• the Web browser receives a user indication of a user desire to retain the alternative application experiences listed in the application manifest.
• the Web browser downloads components associated with the alternative application experiences to the computer system in response to the user indication.
• the Web browser caches the downloaded components at the computer system to retain the alternative application experiences for subsequent use.
• the Web browser indicates that the alternative user experiences are available through an alternative application center.
• the alternative application center provides a common location for accessing alternative application experiences for different Web sites.
• Embodiments of the present invention may comprise or utilize a special purpose or general-purpose computer including computer hardware, as discussed in greater detail below.
• Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include physical and other computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or data structures.
• Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer system.
• Computer-readable media that store computer- executable instructions are physical storage media.
• Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions are transmission media.
• embodiments of the invention can comprise at least two distinctly different kinds of computer-readable media: physical storage media and transmission media.
• Physical storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.
• a "network” is defined as one or more data links that enable the transport of electronic data between computer systems and/or modules and/or other electronic devices.
• a network or another communications connection can include a network and/or data links which can be used to carry or desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
• program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures can be transferred automatically from transmission media to physical storage media (or vice versa).
• computer-executable instructions or data structures received over a network or data link can be buffered in RAM within a network interface module (e.g., a "NIC"), and then eventually transferred to computer system RAM and/or to less volatile physical storage media at a computer system.
• a network interface module e.g., a "NIC”
• NIC network interface module
• physical storage media can be included in computer system components that also (or even primarily) utilize transmission media.
• Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.
• the computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.
• the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers, routers, switches, and the like.
• the invention may also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computer systems, which are linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks.
• program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
• Figure IA illustrates an example computer architecture 100 that facilitates discovering alternative user experiences for Websites.
• computer architecture 100 includes computer system 101 and computer system 102. Each of the depicted computer systems is connected to one another over (or is part of) a network, such as, for example, a Local Area Network ("LAN”), a Wide Area Network (“WAN”), and even the Internet.
• LAN Local Area Network
• WAN Wide Area Network
• each of the depicted computer systems as well as any other connected computer systems and their components can create message related data and exchange message related data (e.g., Internet Protocol (“IP”) datagrams and other higher layer protocols that utilize IP datagrams, such as, Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), etc.) over the network.
• IP Internet Protocol
• TCP Transmission Control Protocol
• HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
• SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
• Computer system 101 includes Web browser 102, alternative application center 104, and alternative application cache 106.
• Web browser 102 is configured to interact with Web sites to send Web-based data to and receive Web- based data from Web sites (e.g., in HTTP messages, such as, for example, HTTP GET, HTTP HEAD, HTTP POST, HTTP PUT, etc.) and to present Web-based data through a user- interface.
• Web browser 102 also includes sticky user- interface control 103.
• Sticky user- interface control 103 can activate (or "light up") when a received message indicates that a Web site has alternative user experiences. A user can then select sticky user- interface control 103 to save or "make sticky" alternative user experiences for Web sites, potentially facilitating use of alternative user experiences when off line.
• Alternative application center 104 provides a user-interface for accessing safe alternative user experiences.
• Alternative application cache 106 is configured to store data for alternative user experiences. When an alternative user experience is saved, data for the alternative user experience can be downloaded to computer system 101 and stored in alternative application cache 106.
• Alternative application center 104 can visual present (e.g., as icons) alternative user experiences stored in alternative application cached 106 to a user. A user can select an alternative user experience from the list to active the alternative user experience (either acting with the alternative user experience directly or through alternative application center 104).
• Computer system 111 includes Web server 112.
• Web server 112 is configured to manage content for one or more Websites.
• Web server 112 can interact with Web browsers and alternative applications to send Web-based data to and receive Web-based data from Web browsers and alternative applications (e.g., in HTTP messages including HTML data).
• Computer system can return Web- based data from storage 113 in response to data requests received at Web server 112.
• Responses to data requests can include content from content 114 and/or links to alternative user experiences in alternative applications 116.
• Web server 112 can include links to any alternative user experiences when returning Web-based data to a Web browser.
• Web server 112 can include a link element in an HTML header of a HTML message.
• the link element can link to data (e.g., in alternative applications 116) for activating alternative user experiences provided by Web server 112.
• a Web browser such as, for example, Web browser 102, can activate a user-interface control, such as, for example, sticky user-interface control 103, in response to detecting a link element to an alternative user experience in other received data, such as, for example, in an HTML header.
• Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of an example method 200 for discovering alternative user experiences for Websites. The method 200 will be described with respect to the components and data of computer architecture 100.
• Method 200 includes an act of submitting a request for content to a Web site (act 201).
• Web browser 102 can submit request 121 (e.g., an HTTP GET containing a URL for Web server 112) to Web server 112.
• request 121 e.g., an HTTP GET containing a URL for Web server 112
• Method 200 includes an act of receiving responsive content responsive to the request from the Web site (act 202).
• Web browser 102 can receive response 122 responsive to request 121.
• response 122 includes header 123 and body 126.
• Header 123 and body 126 can be the header and body of an HTML message respectively.
• Body 126 can contain content responsive to request 121.
• header 126 can contain information about response 122 including title, keywords, and other information that is not necessarily considered content.
• header 126 also includes manifest link 124.
• Web server 112 can embed manifest link 124 in header 123 prior to sending response 122.
• Manifest link 124 can be of the format: ⁇ head>
• the link element includes attribute/value pairs conveying relationship information for accessing an alternative user experience for accessing content 114.
• RIA Rich Internet Application
• the "application/localria" type can be managed between Web browser 102 and Web server 112 and/or can be registered as a content type, such as, for example, a Mime Type, for expanded use.
• a title attribute can be used to provide advisory information about the link element.
• the value of the title attribute can provided as a user tool tip at a Web browser.
• Web browser 102 can display the word "Applications" when hovering over a user-interface element presented as part of body 126.
• Method 200 includes an act of determining that the responsive content includes a link to an application manifest, the application manifest listing one or more alternative applications configured to access content from the Web site (act 203).
• Web browser 102 can determine that response 122 includes manifest link 124.
• Manifest link 124 can link to a portion of alternative applications 116 (e.g., "local.xml") that lists one or more alternative applications configured to access content from Web server 112.
• Method 200 includes an act of indicating at the Web browser that the Web site includes alternative application experiences in response to determining that the responsive content includes the link to the application manifest.
• Web server 102 can active or "light up" sticky user- interface control 103 in response to determining that response 122 includes manifest link 124.
• FIG 3 depicts a portion of a Web browser user-interface 300.
• Web browser user-interface 300 can facilitate saving alternative user experiences for Web sites.
• the functionality of Web browser user-interface 300 can be provided at Web browser 102.
• address field 301 e.g., for submitting URLs
• search field 306 for searching received content
• home page control 302 for returning to a designated home page
• print control 304 for printing received content
• Web browser user- interface 300 can also include sticky user-interface control 103 for making an alternative user experiences (e.g., RIAs) sticky at computer system 101.
• Method 200 includes an act of receiving a user indication of a user desire to retain the alternative application experiences listed in the application manifest (act 204).
• Web browser 102 can receive user-input 107 selecting sticky user- interface control 103.
• Method 200 includes an act of downloading components associated with the alternative application experiences to the computer system in response to the user indication (act 205). For example, selection of sticky user-interface control 103 can cause Web browser 102 to utilize manifest link 124 to send alternative application request 127 to Web server 112.
• Alternative application request 127 can be a request for a portion of alternative applications 116, such as, for example, "local.xml”.
• Web server 112 can pull alternative application manifest 128 (e.g, "local.xml”) from alternative applications 116 and provide alternative application manifest 128 to Web browser 102.
• an alternative application is made sticky in an alternative application center by caching the application user experience (XAML, Image, Media), code DLLs and the necessary application reference data.
• the application can be packaged using a simple ZIP like file format with simple "sticky" manifest.
• alternative application manifest 128 can be of the format:
• the manifest also includes multiple hosts sections. Each host section represents an alternative application including an application type, such as, for example, ria-local, clickonce, ria-device, gadget-sidebar, gadget-list, gadget-w3C, etc. Within each hosts section, a list of application resources (e.g., "ClientBin.TVSticky.xap", TVSticky.
• Method 200 includes an act of caching the downloaded components at the computer system to retain the alternative application experiences for subsequent use (act 206).
• computer system 101 can cache components identified in alternative application manifest 128 (and/or provided by Web server 112) in alternative application cache 106.
• Cached components can include resources as well as configuration information indicated in alternative application manifest 128. These components can be grouped together and stored as application data 141.
• computer system 101 may request further components from Web server 112 (e.g., using URLs contained in alternative application manifest 128).
• computer system 101 can send component request 129 to Web serer 112.
• Web server 112 can identify alternative application components 131 as relevant to the activation and use of alternative applications in alternative application manifest 128.
• Web server 112 can provide alternative application components 131 to computer system 101 for caching. These components can be grouped into application data 141 for storage in alternative application cache 106.
• Method 200 includes an act of indicating that the alternative user experiences are available through an alternative application center at the computer system, the alternative application center providing a common location for accessing alternative application experiences for different Web sites (act 207). For example, the availability of alternative user experiences for accessing content 114 can be indicated through alternative application center 104.
• Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a portion of a user- interface 400 for accessing and activating an alternative user experience for a Web site.
• alternative application control center 104 can be represented as a user- interface control in user-interface 400.
• selection of the user-interface control can cause a listing of available alternative user experiences cached in alternative application cache 106 to be presented.
• a user can choose to make a RIA have a "sticky presence" on their machine. Sticky in the sense the application code and data resources for activating the application are locally cached. A sticky presence RIA is an alternative application that may reuse many of the code and UI assets of the in browser RIA.
• embodiments of the invention permit a uses to navigate to a Web page that has an Alternative Application or "Sticky” RIA (e.g., an .EXE application, .MSI installation package, or ZIP file installation package) for the web site.
• an Alternative Application or "Sticky” RIA e.g., an .EXE application, .MSI installation package, or ZIP file installation package
• a "Make Sticky" button in the browser toolbar can be activated. A user can then click on the button and may be asked to confirm their action.
• the Alternative Application or "Sticky” RIA can be installed to the RIA Center.
• a Web developer can customize the user experience of making an alternative application "sticky”.
• a Web devloper can add a user- interface control, such as, for example, a button to their application.
• a user- interface control such as, for example, a button
• a LocalApplication.Install API can be called, passing a URL to the sticky manfiest.
• a Web developer provides a ⁇ link> element in the ⁇ head> of the HTML web page, the user can drag and drop the web page (from address bar) to the RIA Center.
• Figure IB illustrates a portion of computer architecture 100 that facilitates activating an alternative user experience for a Website. As depicted, Figure IB includes computer system 101 and computer system 111. In response to user-input 147 (input selecting an alternative application for activation) alternative application control center loads cached data 141 from alternative application cache 106.
• Alternative application control center 104 the process the application data 141 to activate alternative application 142.
• Alternative application 142 can request Web-based data from Web server 112.
• Alternative application 142 can send request 151 to Web server 112.
• Request 151 can be a request for a portion of content 114 (e.g., the content included in body 126 or some other Web-based data).
• Web server 112 can return Web-based data to alternative application 142.
• Web server 112 can return content 164 to alternative application 142.
• Alternative application 142 can present content 164 at a user- interface.
• the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics.

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• 2008
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